South Yorkshire pupils become Deaf Aware

PUPILS at Long Toft Primary School have taken part in special training provided by Doncaster Deaf Trust to help them learn the skills to be Deaf Aware.

A group of 40 children aged 10 - 11 have taken part in the Deaf Awareness course which introduced them to British Sign Language and taught them how to sign topics such as family, pets and the weather.

Miss Kane from Long Toft Primary School, said: "We are always looking to find ways to make our school a more open and inclusive place, so that we can care for every individual in our learning community.

"Teaching the children the basics of sign language is a great way to ensure that they are able to make all our pupils feel welcome and to be able to communicate with one another. It will also make them more rounded people and provide vital awareness of how we can overcome the barriers some children face in education by working together."

Natalie Pollard, who delivered the awareness course on behalf of Doncaster Deaf Trust, said: "It has been great to work with the children at Long Toft Primary School to show them how they can begin to be Deaf aware.

"We tailor our courses each time we run them and teaching the children the basics of British Sign Language and how to talk about their pets has been really good fun.

"It is great to see that educational establishments are taking steps to make sure that their pupils are Deaf Aware.”

STUDENTS at Communication Specialist College Doncaster, part of Doncaster Deaf Trust, have a new vibrant and modern study centre thanks to a grant of £40,000 from the Foyle Foundation and £10,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation.